Why Go It Alone, When You Could Scale With a Team?
In Alberta’s booming real estate market, more and more investors are bypassing the slow lane and heading straight for large multi-unit buildings, with 30, 40, or even 50 units. But here’s the twist: they’re not doing it alone.
At Green Casa Property Management, we’re witnessing a new wave of smart, collaborative investing, joint ventures that combine capital, strategy, and expertise to unlock doors that would otherwise remain shut.
Let’s break down how it works and how everyday investors are making serious moves with the help of partners.
🤝 What is a Joint Venture (JV) in Real Estate?
A joint venture is a partnership between two or more parties who come together to buy, manage, and grow a real estate investment. Each partner brings something to the table:
- 💰 One may bring capital (the down payment).
- 📍 Another might offer local market knowledge.
- 🛠️ A third could handle property or asset management.
- 📈 Everyone shares in the profits, risks, and decision-making.
JVs are especially popular in Alberta, where CMHC MLI Select financing allows qualified investors to buy large buildings with just 5% down, a perfect setup for pooling funds and scaling faster.
🧩 Example: How One JV Bought a 36-Unit Building in Edmonton
One of our Green Casa clients from Ontario teamed up with a Calgary-based investor. Here’s how their JV worked:
- Investor A (Ontario): Had $250K in capital, but no local market knowledge.
- Investor B (Calgary): Had access to off-market deals, contractor relationships, and was MLI-Select-savvy.
Together, they secured a 36-unit building with CMHC insurance at 5% down, structured a 60/40 equity split, and divided roles: A handled financing and accounting; B managed renovations and tenant placements.
Within 18 months, the building was cash-flowing strongly, and they were already eyeing the next deal.
🛡️ Benefits of JV Investing
- Leverage Strengths: One investor may have money, another has time, and another has expertise. JV investing lets you bring your strength to the table.
- Spread the Risk: You’re not carrying the whole mortgage or renovation budget alone.
- Buy Bigger Sooner: Pooling resources = access to larger, more profitable assets.
- Location Flexibility: Out-of-province partners can still participate remotely by teaming with someone local.
🧠 Tips for Structuring a Strong JV
- Define roles clearly (Who does what?)
- Use a legal agreement; always put it in writing.
- Agree on the exit strategy (Flip? Refinance? Hold for 10 years?)
- Open joint bank accounts for transparency.
- Meet regularly to review performance and goals.
🏢 How Green Casa Supports JVs
At Green Casa, we work with multiple JV groups and help them:
- Assess potential buildings for MLI Select qualification
- Set up operating procedures
- Manage the day-to-day operations (tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance)
- Provide monthly reporting so all partners stay informed
🚀 Final Thoughts
Real estate is a team sport, especially when you’re playing at the multi-family level. Don’t let limited capital or distance hold you back. With the right partner and a well-structured JV, your next move could be bigger than you think.
